Iran Day 57: Araghchi Delivers Tehran's War-End Demands in Islamabad; Trump Orders 'Shoot and Kill' for Iranian Mine-Laying Boats; Witkoff and Kushner Traveling for Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on April 25 and delivered Tehran's formal list of demands for ending the war to Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief General Asim Munir. Iran's specific demands were not publicly disclosed, but both sides described the meetings as 'substantive' and involving 'meaningful progress.' The White House announced that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were traveling to Islamabad for talks — though Iran's foreign ministry stated no direct US-Iran talks were planned, keeping Pakistan as the sole intermediary channel. Separately, Trump posted on Truth Social ordering the US Navy to 'shoot and kill' any Iranian vessel caught laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, stating 'There is to be no hesitation,' and directed mine-sweepers to clear the Strait at a 'tripled-up level.' WTI crude surged back to the $95–97/barrel range — up sharply from $87–91 after the April 22 ceasefire extension — as markets processed the mixed diplomatic signals against escalatory presidential rhetoric. The US military separately seized another tanker carrying Iranian crude in the Indian Ocean. John Phelan, the Navy's top civilian official, departed the administration effective immediately; Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao was named acting Secretary of the Navy.